Scream 4 (Dimension Films)

Synopsis: Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale (Courteney Cox-Arquette), who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill (Emma Roberts) and her Aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell). Unfortunately Sidney's appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface, putting Sidney and the gang, along with the whole town of Woodsboro, in danger. Written by series creator Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, the film stars also include, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody, Marley Shelton, Nico Tortorella, Kristen Bell, Anna Paquin and Lucy Hale.

My take: Been there.... Done that.... Oh, that was new.... Been there.... Done that... Get the hint? Well, that's the point of this film. Even the opening sequence rips on and deconstructs opening sequences, right before it falls into its own clichéd opening. Fans of the series will be happy to see original writer Kevin Williamson behind the pen again. This film is more reminiscent of the original Scream than the lackluster Scream 3. Throughout the story, the characters pick apart the clichés of the previous 3 films while giving away all the surprises of this one. 

The actors are plentiful in name, which helps hide the identity of the killer(s), since any one of them could be it. Each character is given enough time to give them a little depth, but not enough to be fully invested. Luckily, half the cast are return veterans, so they've been developed already. Unfortunately, the story isn't as well constructed as the cast, and the film seems to split in two, where one story follows the adults and the other follows the kids. The end results being a disjointed and muddled middle of what is, otherwise, an ok movie.

Verdict: This film feels like a warm, familiar hug...  from your uncle... that hangs on too long and begins to make you feel uncomfortable. I mean, they spend so much energy dissing the clichés they helped create, only to spend the rest of the film being mostly predictable. But, there is enough newness here to keep the fans happy.

Rating: Rent it

Genre:  Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: R - for strong, bloody violence, language and some teen drinking
Run time: 103min.

Sucker Punch (IMAX)

Synopsis: An epic action fantasy in which a young girl (Emily Browning) is institutionalized by her abusive stepfather. Retreating to an alternative reality within her vivid imagination, she envisions a plan which will help her, and four other young girls, escape from the mental facility. Unrestrained by the boundaries of reality, the team of sexy warriors engage in fantastical warfare against everything from samurais to Nazi zombies (and even a dragon!). Written and directed by Zack Snyder (300), the cast of Sucker Punch includes Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Oscar Isaac and Carla Gugino.

My Take: This movie was disappointing, but enjoyable. The visual look of this film is grungy, sexist and over-the-top live-action anime. I don't know about you, but, to me, that all spells a-w-e-s-o-m-e! The storyline, however, does not.

Babydoll (Emily Browning) and her sister are to inherit a fortune after their mother's death. Their stepfather, wanting the money for himself, kills the sister and pins it on her, sending her to a mental facility. In order to deal with all this, Babydoll imagines an alternate reality, where she and the other inmates are living in a brothel. When she is forced to dance, she slips into another alternate reality where, with the help of a "wise man",  she hatches an escape plan. Babydoll's dancing is also a distraction technique used so the other girls can obtain the five items needed for the plan to work.

Now the movie takes off. While Babydoll dances, each "mission" is played out through her fantasies. Here, Snyder lays out fantastic visual action sequences. Each "mission" is an orgy of swordplay, bullets and bad-ass hand-to-hand combat set in their own distinct world, and set to songs like "White Rabbit," "Where Is My Mind" and the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows". With the team dressed like the Powerpuff Girls shopped at Victoria Secret, these sequences are a teen boy's wet dream. They're music video hallucinations. Fanboy porn, as it were. This is what you'd expect from an IMAX film.


The storyline is where this film goes from Avatar to Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow. The fantasy within a fantasy can be confusing, but this is only a problem for those that don't pay attention. The real issue is the lack of character development and weak story. The acting is decent, but the actors have nothing to work with. You can't expect the action to carry the entire film. You have to energize the in-between talky parts with a little craft and tension. I found myself unmoved by their plight and not really caring if they escaped. I was mostly just waiting for the next action sequence to begin. And, I have to ask, what women would imagine a whorehouse as an acceptable alternative to a mental facility?


Verdict: Take this movie for what it is, a visual escape from reality. If all you look for in a film is sexy girls and good CGI action, this one delivers. A better story and it could have been a summer blockbuster. The action is worthy of IMAX, but save your money. Let's hope you got a big screen tv at home.


Rating: Rent it


Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi 
Rated: PG-13 – See Full Ratingfor violence, language and some sexual content 
Run Time: 110 min

Paul (Universal Pictures)

Synopsis: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite as Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost), two sci-fi geeks on vacation to see America's UFO hot spots. Along the way, they meet Paul (Seth Rogen), a sarcastic, stoner alien on the run after escaping from a top-secret military base, and accidentally kidnap overly religious Ruth (Kristen Wiig). Chased by federal agents and the young woman's father, Graeme and Clive hatch a hap-hazard plan to return Paul to his mother ship. Paul is directed by Superbad's Greg Mottola, from a story by Pegg & Frost. Joining the comedy's cast are Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch, David Koechner and Sigourney Weaver.

My take:  Don't go into this hoping for the same instant classic as Sean Of The Dead. While it's still a good movie, it just doesn't stack up. Director Greg Mottola lends a more sentimental touch to Paul. This could even be a family film, if not for the swearing and drug use. Simon and Nick's friendship really shines through as Graeme and Clive. There's no magic lost between those two. The problem is with Seth Rogan as Paul. I liked Seth in his previous films (and thought he was excellent as the Green Hornet), but this is Seth on overload, and that's just a bit too much. He wasn't all bad, but dialing him back a bit would have gone a whole lot further. Half way through, I started not really caring if Paul got away. That's not how you want the audience to feel about a main character.

Kristen Wiig was right in her wheelhouse as neurotic Ruth (reminded me of her SNL character Penelope). She plays it well as she struggles between her super-religious upbringing, and her new found freedom, complete with sexual awakenings and drug experimentation. Her scenes skip a beat when Ruth and Paul have a debate on God and evolution. That's just a little heavy of a subject for such a light-hearted film and seems a bit out of place.

Verdict: Overall, this is a nice film. It just doesn't have the comic pizazz of a film you'd expect out of a Pegg-Frost collaboration. Unfortunately, the script isn't strong enough to stand with out them. If you're a true Pegg-Frost fan, watch it with an open mind and you'll be pleasantly surprised.


My recommendation: Rent it

Genre: Comedy, Sci-fi, Adventure
Rated: R – See Full Ratingfor language including sexual references, and some drug use 
Run Time: 1 hr. 40 min.